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Development of Internationally Standardized Microbial Resource Center to Promote Life Science Research and Biotechnology

Bioresources

Republic of Indonesia

Finished

Development of Internationally Standardized Microbial Resource Center to Promote Life Science Research and Biotechnology

Invisible Rainforest Treasures: Searching for Biotechnology Building Blocks of the Future

Principal Investigator

- Acting Director-General, Dr.
  SUZUKI Ken-ichiro
  Biological Resource Center, National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE)

ODA Recipient Country

Republic of Indonesia

Research Institutions in Japan

National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE) / RIKEN / The University of Tokyo

Research Institutions in Counterpart Country

Research Center for Biology of Indonesian Institute of Sciences (RCB-LIPI), etc.

Adoption fiscal year

FY 2010

Research Period

5 Years

Overview of the Research Project

Utilizing the microorganisms that underpin rich tropical ecosystems in a diversity of industries
Indonesia boasts the second richest biodiversity in the world, and the conservation of its biological resources is a matter of keen interest. However, no system yet exists for the sustainable use of Indonesia’s microbiological resources, which are being viewed eagerly for potential application in agriculture and environmental technology. This project is establishing a microbial resource center to preserve and provide access to such useful microorganisms, which will be recorded in a database and made available worldwide so as to contribute to resource conservation and development of new industries.

Supporting developing countries through the Sleeping Microbial Beauties Project
The goal of the Sleeping Microbial Beauties Project is establishment of a microbial resource center which holds diverse microorganisms characteristic for Indonesia. The microbial resources are collected, characterized and preserved for utilization in agriculture and industries. The management skill of the center for utilization of materials is transferred as well as the knowledge and techniques for isolation, preservation, and taxonomy of microorganisms. The project will contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and discovery of valuable microorganisms.